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WellingtonNZ, Tourism Industry Aotearoa, Hospitality NZ and Business Central are on a mission to help boost the sustainability credentials of the capital’s hospitality sector.
With the city aiming to become a net zero carbon capital by 2050, Wellington’s business development and hospitality organisations have joined forces to offer the LoCarb Wellington Hospitality Sustainability Programme.
The programme, which can cater for up to 40 businesses, runs for five weeks from April 30 and is aimed at developing sustainability best practice in participating hospitality businesses.
TIA chief executive Rebecca Ingram says the programme would illustrate not only how to measure their impact but how to build a sustainability business plan to take action.
“The wider tourism industry, of which hospitality is a key sector, has a plan to significantly reduce its carbon emissions by 2030 and be net carbon neutral by 2050.
“Sustainability has many faces and we are seeing many businesses in the industry taking on pest control, supporting community sustainability and offering really meaningful employee benefits. There’s great work happening across the motu and we are delighted to be working with the next cohort of Wellington businesses.”
Hospitality New Zealand chief executive Steve Armitage is pleased to be bringing hospitality businesses together to further the sector’s sustainability journey.
“We want to help hospitality businesses identify ways in which they can reduce their food waste and ultimately become more sustainable. We’ll engage with sustainability service providers and work together to determine how best to take action,” says Steve.
“Sustainability is a high priority in our recently released five-year strategic plan and we’re well and truly ready to begin this important work with the industry.”
WellingtonNZ destination Poneke manager Chris Sperring says earlier sustainability pilot programmes for a range of businesses in the visitor economy space had revealed a strong desire for more targeted assistance.
“We are responding to a need from our hospitality businesses who want to do more to monitor their carbon footprint and reduce waste. WellingtonNZ is leading the way in assisting businesses achieve the city’s 2050 goal.”
The LoCarb programme has previously been run with tourism businesses and has now been modified and extended to the wider visitor industry.
